Hill Hits a Plateau That Has Been Out of Reach

The bottom line Sunday: The Angels got their money’s worth from Ken Hill when he out-pitched the Dodgers’ Carlos Perez.

Whether that’s a difficult task can be debated, but Hill’s six-inning stint was a welcomed event.

He gave up four hits and three runs in six innings during the Angels’ 7-5 victory at Dodger Stadium. It marked the first time Hill has won back-to-back games since before his elbow surgery last June.

Hill was expected to be the Angel ace after he signed a three-year, $16.05-million contract in 1997. He has won only 12 games since, with last season interrupted by three months on the disabled list.

“They expect things from me, they pay me,” Hill said. “They expect me to go out and pitch well. I’m not going to pitch well every time out, but I’m harder on myself than anybody. I expect to go out every time and give the team the opportunity to win.”

Perez should have been there taking notes.

Like Hill, Perez has had some health problems.

Like Hill, much was expected from Perez after he signed a three-year, $15.5-million contract during the off-season.

Unlike Hill, Perez’s opinions on these matters are unknown.

Perez bolted soon after the game ended, as is his habit when he loses. He does talk when he wins. . . . both times.

It left Manager Davey Johnson as his only defender Sunday. He pointed out that Perez (2-7) struck out Mo Vaughn three times. He glossed over the fact that Perez gave up seven runs in 6 2/3 innings.

“When things aren’t going well, as has been the case with Carlos this season, little things start to hurt you out there,” Johnson said. “They had a couple balls drop in. That can gnaw at you.”

True enough, the Angels had a few bloop hits, including a pop up that second baseman Eric Young lost in the sun.

Perez’s woes can’t be blamed on bleeders. There was nothing cheap about Troy Glaus’ three-run homer in the sixth or Darin Erstad’s solo homer in the seventh. Those helped push Perez’s earned-run average to 6.18.

Meanwhile, Hill (3-4) was there to take personal responsibility, as he does even when he loses. His first inning Sunday? Bad.

With two outs, Hill walked Gary Sheffield, gave up an infield single to Raul Mondesi and walked Eric Karros. Devon White followed with a two-run single, the only hard hit ball in the inning, for a 2-0 lead.

“I was aiming the ball,” Hill said. “I usually look down before I pitch, but I was looking at the mitt instead. When I get out of whack like that, I just need to slow down.”

Hill retired 13 of the next 14 batters before Sheffield’s solo home run in the sixth. By then, the Angels had scored seven runs.

“Ken had great split-finger, and I thought this might have been the best slider I’ve ever seen in him,” Manager Terry Collins said. “He gave us innings we had to have.”